Multi-feed circular knitting machine



Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet1 HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

INVENTOR.

AGENT Nov. 25,- 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINEFiled May 22. 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 g a as Q 7 l 34 INVENTORI HERMAN E.CRAWFORD.

BY am aw;

AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR/ KNITTING MACHINE7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1956 HERMAN E. CRAWFORD,

w a: w x

AGENT Nov. '25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22 1956 INVENTOR: HERMAN E. CRAWFORD. BY W f1% AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 Filed May 22, 1956 MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTINGMACHINE H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I.\'VENT( )RI HERMAN E. CRAWFORD.

AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD 2,861,440

MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6HERMAN E. CRAWFORD,

INVENTOR.

BY w m- AGENT Nov. 25, 1958 H. E. CRAWFORD v MULTI-FEED CIRCULARKNITTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 22, 1956 INVENTORI HERMANE. CRAWFORD.

United States Paten v MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Herman E.Crawford, Kernersville, N. C., assignor to The Crawford Company;Incorporated, Kernersville, N. C., a corporation of North CarolinaApplication May 22, 1956, Serial No. 586,587

17 Claims. (Cl; 66-41) This invention relates to improvements incircular knitting machines of the independent needle type and moreespecially to improvements in multi-feed circular knitting machineswhereinthe multi-feed knitting is em ployed throughout the article beingknit.

It is well known to-those familiar with the knitting art thatmulti-feedor two-feed knitting machines have heretofore been attemptedand abandoned because of an inability to produce satisfactory heel andtoe pockets and the complicated mechanism required to carry out thismulti-feed in the leg and foot, as well as in the heel and toeportionsof hosiery, especially in the finer gauge hosi-' cry of the 400needle class.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simplefeeding andknittingmeans'for knitting a plurality of courses: with eachrotary motion of the, needle cylinder during rotary knitting inthe'legandfoot portions, as we11-as knitting a plurality of-partial courses"with each reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder in knitting theheel and toe pockets.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of the typedescribed employing selector jacks beneath each of the cylinder needlesto activate selected cylinder needles in forming the first few ormake-up courses of a stocking, in the transfer of a welt portion fromthe dial bitsvto the cylinder needles, and to select groups of cylinderneedles in preparation for knitting the heel and toe pockets.

It is another object of this invention-to provide amtiltifeed knittingmachine which isable to knit'tw'o courses" with each reciprocation ofthe needle cylinder during knitting of the heel and toe pocketsofhosiery and to' form a satisfactory suture at the heel and toe pocketswhile'knitting two courses with each reciprocationof the needlecylinder. Satisfactory'sutures -at the heel'and toe pockets mean thatthe junctures of the narrowed and widened areas contain no'open placesor cat eyes and the heel and toev sutures, while being knit two courseswith each reciprocation of the needle cylinder, are formed in the samemanner'as sutures knit in a conventionalmanner with a single coursebeing knit with each recip- It is possible'to knit the conventional heeland toe pocket, while 'knitting'twocourses with each reciprocation ofthejcylinder, by using rocation of the needle'cylinder.

a set of narrowing picks with eachof two sets of knitting cams and apair of widening picks, so that the number of below selectedones oftheplurality of-knitting stations employed. in this improved machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been'stated,

other objects will appearas' the"description proeeeds 2,861,440 PatentedNow-'25, 1958 tions therefore;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view v taken substantially along the line 22-in Figure-1 Figure 3 is a transverse Vverticalsectional view',-at-=aiienlargedscale, being: taken 'substantiallyr'along the" line Figure 4 isatransverseivert'ical sectional-view,-at' an enlarged scale; beingtakensubstantially along the'line 4-'- 4 in=Figure--2;'

Figure 5-is a sectional plan viewtaken-substantially along theline-5-5'in Figure" 1;

Figure 6 isa sectional tplan'flview ta'ken substantially along-the-line6'6 in'Figure- 1 Figure 7 is a developmentof: the various needle andpattern jack-cams'taken' as-if looking outwardly from inf side theneedle cylinder and showing:the paths of the" cylinderneedles;-auxiliaryjacks, and selector jacksduring the make-up andtransfer-operations;

Figure 8 is a view similarjto Figure7,' but showing the pathsof travelof the needles and jacks during circular multi-feed knitting;

Figure 9 is'a development of the cylinder neemeeams only, and showingthe operation-preparatory to knitting a heel or toe pocket whereinzaselected groupof' the needles are'sWitc-hed upto-outzof action ornon-knitting position; H 1

Figure 10-is a-view similartoi-Figure 9',- .exc'ept showing theoperation ofswitching; down needles" intooperativepositonwhichhavepreviously-been raised to noir k'nittin'gposition;

Figure 1 1 isa tdevelopment ofithe needle c'am's and showing the actionof-thenarr'owingpicks" in a narrowing operation; and

Figure 12'is av iew similar to Figure 11: except showing: the operationof the -various widening picks during awidening: operatiom; v

The machine generally is of the same general class as the Y well-knownScott & Williams Model:-

circular hosiery machine, and many of the' bas'ic partsof-rny'improv'ed;

machine are unchanged fromrthe above-mentioned Scott-- &- Williams ModelK machin'e. The machine generally is under the controlj of-a-pjatternchaimnot shown, which; in turn, operates a main: pattern drum rotated ina step by-step manner to make-one complete revolutionduringthe'knittingof asin'gle articl'et,

The T pattern 1 chain also controls; rotary and reciproca tory'action'to a'main drive shaft 10*(Figure 1) having} a cylinder driving-bevelgear 1-1 :fi'xedly secured thereto I and a; dial driving5bevel gear: 12'securedto' one face of the gear 11. The idialdrivingbevelgearflzlrneshe's with" a'bevel gear 13-;fixedly securedtofithe lower endof a vertical shaft-14- which" extendsrupwardlyin Figure 1throughsuitablehousings a'lower bed-plate 15, an' upp bed-plate lfiandinto a dialudrivin'gu gear housing 20.- j The gear housing20 is providedwith'theusualgea ringarrangement to drivefthe usual dial 25"(Figure"'6*)which isprovided with conven-tional transfer Ibits',v not shown."Thebevel gear '11 meshes with aaebevel gear "(Figure 3) mounted=forrotation in the lower bed-plate-15an'cl havinga anupstanding tubularportion 31 integral3there' with. The needle cylinder32 surroundsandis.keyed to the" tubular portion 31andis-adaptedto be" movedi verticallyrelative to, the tubular; portion 31-? in=-a'conventional manner. 7 Thebevelgear 30 is .held in therlower bedplate15 by"a' lower cam plate 34surrounding the needle cylinder "32. The machine is;al;so provided with-the-usua-ksinker's, notshown, moufitddoiradial movement in a sinker cap35 (Figures 1 and 6) adjacent the upper end of the needle cylinder 32. Alatch ring 36 has a throat opening 37 in which a plurality ofconventional yarn feeding fingers 38 are mounted and operated byconventional thrust bars, not shown, to move the yarn feeding fingers 38into and out of yarn feeding position. For purposes of clarity and easeof description, this throat opening 37 and the yarnfeeding fingers 38will hereinafter be referred to as the first yarn feeding station.

Part of the novelty of this invention lies in a second yarn feedingstation which includes a throat 40 (Figure 6). The throat 40 at thesecond yarn feeding station is shown as being provided with three yarnfeeding fingers or levers 42, 43, and 44, each of which is provided witha yarn guiding tube 46 (Figure 1) at their end adjacent the throat 40.Eachof the yarn finger levers 42, 43, and 44 is pivotally mounted as at50 intermediate their ends and the outer ends of each of which areoperated by thrust rods 51, 52, and 53. The lower ends of'the thrustrods 51, 52, 53 are adapted to at times engage and ride along the mainpattern drum,'not shown, and at other times to be raised by cams placedon the main pattern drum to thus raise and lower the yarn feed fingers42, 43, and 44 into and out of the yarn feeding position in the throat40 of the latch ring 36. Downward movement of the yarn guiding tubes 46on each of the yarn feeding fingers 42, 43, and 44 is limited byadjustment screws 55 (Figure l) engaging the lower surface of therespective yarn feeding fingers 42, 43, and

44 and which screws 55 threadably penetrate and outwardly extendingportion 57 of the latch ring 36.

The latch ring 36 is also provided with a gap closing ring 59 (Figure 6)having openings therein which correspond with the throats 37 and 40 ofthe latch ring 36 and which ring 59 is provided to close the throats 37and 40 during reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder 32 to preventthe latches the cylinder needles N from being thrown out into thethroats 37 and 40 and becoming broken during reciprocatory motion of theneedle cylinder 32. The gap closing ring 59 is moved to close thethroats 37 and 40 in the latch ring 36 by a connecting link 60 whichextends rearwardly in Figure 6 and is connected by suitable connections,not shown, to the main pattern drum for operating the gap closing ring59 at the proper time.

- The needle cylinder 32 is provided with conventional vertical groovesor slots therein and each of these slots is provided with a verticallymovable cylinder needle N (Figures 7 and 8), an auxiliary jack A] and aneedle selector jack 1.. The needle selector jack I is the conventionalrocking type jack and occupies the space substantially between the lowerbed-plate and the upper bed-plate 16, while the auxiliary jack A]occupies the spaceadjacent the upper bed-plate 16and the cylinder needleN occupies the space between the upper bed-plate 16 and the sinker cap35 shown in Figure 1.

A novel needle selecting mechanism is provided on the lower bed-plate 15and includes three jack raising cams 65, 66, and 67 (Figures 2, 7 and8), the inner surfaces of wln'ch are in close proximity to the outerdiameter of the needle cylinder 32. Each of the jack raising cams 65, 66and 67 is fixedly secured to a bracket 70 mounted in a radially cutgroove in the lower cam plate 34. A plurality of jack selecting fingersor levers 75,76, 77, 78 and 79 are provided on the lower cam plate 34 torock the lower ends of certain jacks I back. into the slots in theneedle cylinder 32 to a non-selected position so that they will not rideup the jack raising cams 65 or 67.

The jack selecting finger 75, adjacent the jack raising cam 65, isoscillatably mounted on a stud 75a the lower end of which is threadablyembedded in the lower cam plate 34 and a tension spring 75b urges thereading end of the jack selecting finger 75 away from the needlecylinder (Figures 2 and 4). The finger 75 is, at times,

moved into selecting position by a pattern controlled link 75c connectedthereto at one end and the opposite end of which extends to any suitablepattern controlled part of the machine, such as the main pattern drum,not shown. The selector fingers 76, 77, 78 and 79 are mounted on a stud76a (Figures 2 and 3) and the reading ends thereof are urged toward theneedle cylinder 32 by tension springs 76b. The selector fingers 76, 77,78 and 79, are, at times, moved into selecting position by respectivecontrol links 760, 77c, 78c and 79c suitably connected to any patterncontrolled mechanism such as the main pattern drum, not shown.

As the needle cylinder is rotated in either direction, the needleselecting jacks J are rocked outwardly at their lower ends to thepositions shown in Figures 3 and 4 by respective jack push-out cams 81,82, and 83 engaging an upper butt portion 85 of the needle selector jackI as they approach the needle selector jack raising cams 65, 66 and 67(Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8). Each of the needle selector jacks} is alsoprovided with removable butts at three different levels, indicated at86, 87 and 88 (Figures 7 and 8), as well as being provided with astationary lower butt 90 and a jack raising step 91. The lower butt 90is on every one of the jacks J and is in horizontal alignment with theselector finger 76. The removable butt 88 is broken 01f on alternatejacks J in the needle cylinder 32 and the butts 88 left on interveningjacks I and the butts 88 are in horizontal alignment with the selectorfingers 75 and 77. The removable butt 87 is broken off a few more thanhalf the selectors in the needle cylinder and in the case of a 400needle cylinder this would be 240 selector jacks J without the butts 87and 160 selector jacks J withthe butts 87 left thereon and these buttsare in horizontal alignment with the selector finger 78. The removablebutt 86 is broken off half the selector jacks I and the butts 86, lefton the selector jacks J are in horizontal alignment with selector finger79.

It is thus seen, that since each of the butt portions 85, of the needleselector jacks J is rocked inwardly into the slots in the needlecylinder 32 by the fixed pushout earns 81, 82 and 83 the steps 91 on thelower end of the selector jacks I will approach each of the jack raisingcams 65, 66 and 67 in substantially the positions shown in Figure 3,that is, with the steps 91 out of the slots in the needle cylinder 32and in position to engage the sloping sides of the jack raising cams 65,66 and 67 to thereby raise the jacks I along these sloping surfaces. If,however, it is desired to have selected one of the selector jacks I passthe jack raising cams 65 or 67'without being raised, it is necessary topush or rock the lower ends of the selector jacks I back into the slotsin the needle cylinder 32 by one of the selector fingers 75, 76, 77, 78or 79, sometime before the step portion 91 of the selector jack Jreaches the respective jack raising cams 65 or 67.

The fixed needle cams on'an upper cam plate 95 (Figures 5, and 7 through12) in the upper bed-plate 16 include; a first needle raising or end camhaving an inverted V-s'haped opening 101 therein, for allowing space forthe butt of the auxiliary jack A1 to be raised by the jack raising cam65, a second or center needle raising cam 102 having an invertedV-shaped cut-out 103 therein, which is similar in shape and operation tothe cut-out 101 in the first needle raising cam 100, a third needleraising or end earn 104, also having an inverted V-shaped cut-out 105,similar to'the cut-outs 101 and 103 and a jack gate or fill-in cam 106.Each of these cams 100, 102, 104, and 106 is fixedly secured to anupstanding portion of the upper cam plate 95, and they surround theneedle cylinder 32 in close proximity thereto.

Other cams surrounding the needle cylinder 32 and mounted on the camplate 95 include; a first knitting station comprising a top centerneedle guiding cam 110, right hand stitch cam 111, left hand stitch cam112, right hand end cam 113V and a left hand end earn 114. These cam's'il'o thru 114 comprise'the fir'stknitting'station-and are so arranged andadapted to draw stitches when the needle butts pass over theiupperclearing-cam-surfa'ce of one stitchcam and alongthe inclined stitchdrawing surface and beneath the other stitch cam -in'either direction,

as'the-needle cylinder 32 is causedto rotate or reciprocate. The-cams110-thru 114- are fixedly secured to a first knitting station cam block115 (Figures 8- thru 12 and Figure the'lower end of which is fixedlysecured on the cam plate 95.

A second. knitting station, which is 1 identical to the first knittingstation isspaced from the first knitting station :and comprises; a topcenterneedle .guidingcam 12 0,'a right hand stitch cam- 121,.a left handstitchcam 122, a

right 'hand'end cam 123 andia left hand end cam 124, allof-rwhichcarelfixedly secured on:a secondknitting station cam block 125(Figures 8. thru '12" and Figure 5). 1 A pair :of conventional:narrowing picks 126= and 127 are associatedwith'ithe first knittingstation and are adapted to work in notches. introspective right handand-left hand stitch cams 111 and 112. The picks 126 and 127 are:mounted in conventional =pick stands 128 and 129 (Figure 5) vandareinner-connected by a linkl l30 which causes these narrowing picks tooperate in a conventional manner, that is, when one-narrowing pick is inthe lower position or the solid line position shown'in Figure 8,

the other narrowing pick will be in .the. inoperative or dotted lineposition shown in Figure 8. A similar: pair of narrowing'picks- 131 and132 are adapted to WOI'kri l'l notches in the respective r-ighthand andleft hand stitch cams-121 and 122, atthe second knitting station. Thepicks 131 and 132 are mounted .in conventional pick stands 133 and 134(Figure 5) and are "inner-connected by aconnecting link 135. Thenarrowing picks 126, 127 and 131,132 are in the present instance,constructed to pickup one needleeach.

-A'widening picker 138, constructed to pick down two needles in eitherdirection, is mounted between the first knitting station and the secondknitting station in a conventional widening pick --stand 139 (Figure 5).The

widening picker 138 may be moved to inoperative position, or to theposition shown solid lines in Figure 8, by

-avertically extending plunger 140 (Figure 5) which is patterncontrolled through suitable linkage by the main pattern drum. Thewidening pick 138 may be'moved I 'from the-position shown-in solid linesin Figure' S to the dotted line position shownin Figure 8 whenit isdesired that'the widening picker 138 become operative. Another wideningpicker 142, which is identical to the widening :picker. 138, is mountedin a widening pick stand 143 (Figures 1, 5 and 8) and the movement ofthe widening picker 142 from operative to inoperativeposition iscontrolled by a vertical :post 145 (Figure I) mounted for verticalsliding movement in the bed-plate 16 and carrying a fixed collar 146which .is urged downwardly against the bed plate 16 by a compressionspring 147 surrounding the lower end of the post 145.

The post 145 is, at times, raised by one end of a lever 150 oscillatablymounted as at 151 on a bracket 152 fixedly secured on the bed-plate 16and the outer orleft hand end in Figure 1- is moved vertically by acontrol cable 153 the opposite end of which extends to any suitableconnections adjacent the main pattern drum, -not shown, for raising thevertical post 145 to thus 'move the widening pick 142 fromthepositionshownin dotted line Figure 8 to the solid line positionv shownin Figure 8 or from the operative to the inoperative position.

The other cams on the cam plate 95 surrounding "the needle cylinder 32include a radially movable needle raising or switch cam 155 and'aradiallymOvablenedle lowering or 'switchcam 156 both of which are'Jslidably mounted in a camblock 157? (Figure 5)xandith'esouter mainpattern drum to cause'the cams 1 55 'o'r -1 56' to either raise 'toinoperative position or lower in to operative position a selectedportionof the nee'dles in 'the needle cylinderduring the formation ofthe heel and toe pockets.

These cams 155 and 156 are the ordinaryswitch cams and are for thepurpose of switching up out of-action a .up out of action,"will'engageand ride'up' the jack raising cam 67 to raise the butts"of-the:cylinderlnedles N to the height indicated at P-1 in Figure 9 sothat they will be raised higher by the switch cam 155 10 follow a path'P-2-above the center-'stitchfcams and 120.

In order to lower the raised cylinder needles N following the paths P-"2in Figures'9and '1'0,' a1':ter completing the heel and toe pockets, theswitch cam156 ismoved inwar'dly to engage'the cylinder needle butts and.lower them to la path P-3in Figure 10'so that theneedles will then takeyarn and draw stitches.

It is thus seen that-I havepro'videdspaced identical knitting stationseach of which. includes the three conventional stitch cams, that is, thetop-center cam;- right and:left hand stitch camsiand each of ithe'righuand left hand stitch cams has a narrowing pick operating therein.Ihave also" provided a pair of widening pickers one ofwhichjisplacedbetween the first knitting station? and the second knittingstation and theother 'of i whichis placed substantially opposite thefirst widening pick across the needle cylinder 32. It is the combinationof these two conventional knitting stations and their narrowing picks"plus the two widening picks that "makes possible the knitting. of heeland"t0e"pockets with even suture junctures whileknitting two courseswith each reciprocation of the needle cylinder. The manner in which -acomplete article 'is knit including the formation of the heel andtoe-pockets will now be given.

Method of operation .Before any yarnis introduced tothe throats -37'-and40,

the needle cylinder 32'is caused to rotateinYthe forward directionshownby the arrow. in Figure -7,'l-in order --to form'a make-up orselvage starting from the bare needles, the butts '85 of all oftheaneedle selector jacks-Tare engaged by the jack'pus h-out cam 83top'osition the lower end of the needle selector .jacks J insubstantially the position shown inFigure 3. The selector-finger 75 ismoved inwardly towards the? needle cylinder 32. to its operativeposition to engage the butts 88 on alternate needle selector jacks I tocause these jacks-to be pressed back into the slots in the'needlecylinder '32 and pass behind the jack elevating cam 65 along the pathwayP-4 in Figure 7 to thus remain in the lowered position. The 'jackraising step 91"oftheintervening jacks I P will engage and rideup' thecam 65, ithe'auxiliary jacks A] will follow the path indicated at'P-S inFigure 7, the corresponding needle .butts "will follow a pathwayindicated at'P-6 and vthe' upper'en'dof the needles N wil followavpathwayuindicated at P-7.

Thus, .as. the needle butts approach thefirs't knitting station,theyareseparatedalternately at. two 'levelsi -so that the'needlebutts:at the upper .levelsp'ass above the right 'handxstitch caml111- along apath indicated at P'S and the needle butts fat the lower level willfo'llow' a' path P 9beneath the "right "hand' stit ch cam 111" sothatthe hook ends iof :theineedles" N (will follow ;the. respective 'pathsindicated at P- and P-11. The hooks on the needles following the path,P-10 will pick up and knit the first yarn Y at the first throat opening37 and as the jacks I approach the raising cam 66, the upper ends of allthe jacks are rocked inwardly and the lower ends are rocked outwardly ofthe slots in the needle cylinder .32 so that all of the steps 91 willride up the jack raising cam 66. The jacks I thus raise the auxiliaryjacks AI and the cylinder needles N so that the butts of all thecylinder needles N follow a pathway indicated at P-12 and the upper endof the needles N will follow a pathway indicated at P-13 in Figure 7.The needle butts .of the cylinder needles N will be raised high enoughby the needle selector jacks I and the auxiliary jacks -AJ so that allof the butts will pass over the clearing cam surface of the right handstitch cam 121, at the second knitting station, and follow a pathwayP-14 and the hooks of all the cylinder needles will follow the pathwayP-15 to draw stitches with the yarn Y-2 at the second throat 40. As theneedle selector jacks I approach the jack raising cam 67, the selectorfinger 77 is moved to operative position and the lower end of :each ofthe needle selector jacksl is rocked outwardly of the slots in theneedle cylinder 32 by the jack pushout cam 82 engaging the butt portion85 of the needle selector jacks I, alternate ones of the selector jacksJ are again pushed in at their lower ends so that only intervening jacksI will ride up the jack elevating earn 67. Alternate selector jacks willfollow a path P-16 to thus leave the hooks of alternate cylinder needlesat a lower position to follow a pathway P-17 and the hooks ofintervening needles will be raised to follow a pathway P-18.

Thus, in the make-up every other or alternate cylinder needles N passthrough the stitch carnat the first knitting station and interveningcylinder needles pass beneath the stitch cams at the first knittingstation to thus place the yarn Y in the hooks of alternate needles atthe first knitting station and as the needles which pass beneath thefirst knitting station are raised along the pathway P-13 the yarn Y isplaced behind these needles. All the cylinder needles N pass through thestitch cams at the second knitting station to draw stitches with theyarn ..Y-1 and complete the make-up or selvage with the first revolutionof the needle cylinder 32 after the yarn is introduced to the needles.

As the second revolution of the needle cylinder is made, conventionalcams in the dial cause the transfer bits indicated at 175 in Figure 7 tomove outwardly over the hooks of the lowered cylinder needles Nfollowing the pathway P-17 at approximately the position shown in Figure7. As the transfer bits pass the first knitting station, the yarn Y islaid over the hooks of the transfer bits. The transfer bits 175 aremoved inwardly again by conventional cams, not shown, in the dial 25 tomove the bits inwardly betweenthe first throat 37 and the second throat40 so that the yarn Y-l is not picked up by the hooks of the transferbits 75 at the second knitting station. The hooks of the transfer bits175 hold the yarn Y'thereon during the knitting ofzthe turned weltportion of the hose.

On the next course plain knitting will occur, that is, all the cylinderneedles will pass through both of the knitting stations and drawstitches at both stations to knit two courses with each rotation of theneedle cylinder 32. All of the cylinder needles are caused to passthrough both the first and second knitting stations by moving theselector fingers and 77 to inoperative position and moving the selectorfinger 76 to operative position (Figdrawstitches as they pass beneaththe respective left hand stitch cams 112 and 122. The illustration ofthe knitting action shown in Figure 8 shows the selector finger 76 inoperative position, causing all of the steps 91 of the selector jacks Jto pass behind the jack raising cam 67 and remain in a lowered position.The butts of the cylinder needles N leaving the stitch cam 122 areraised slightly by the end cam 104 and travel around at a low elevationindicated at P-,22, until being raised slightly by an inclined surfaceof the end cam 10,0 and then raised additionally by the jack raising cam65. It is to be understood that the selector finger 76 could be moved toinoperative position to allow the selector jacks J to be raised by thejack raising cam .67 and raise the cylinder needles N so that theneedles would travel at an elevation high enough to pass over the stitchearn 111 without being raised by the selector jacks J riding up the jackraising cam 65. Any desired number .of courses may then be knit beforetransferring the yarn Y held by the transfer hits back to the books ofthe cylinder needles N. I

The transfer of the loops from the transfer bits .to thecylinder needles(Figure 7) is effected to provide a turned welt by moving the selectorfinger 77 into operative position to engage butts 88 on alternateselector jacks I so that the steps 91 of the alternate selector jacks Iare rocked inwardly and pass behind the jack raising cam 67..Intervening jacks I have their butts .88 broken 0E and therefore willnot be rocked back into the slots in the needle cylinder by the selectorfinger 77 so that the step 91 thereof will engage and ride up the jackraising cam 67. Thus the hooks of alternate cylinder needles N willtravel the low pathway P-17 and the hooks of intervening cylinderneedles N will travel a higher pathway P-18 (Figure 7) as the cylinderneedles N approach the first knitting station. The transfer bits areagain moved outwardly from the dial and over the needles following thepathway P-17 and these lowered needles will be raised, by the inclinedsurface 160 of the end cam 100, high enough that their hooks passthrough the openings in the transfer bits to a level indicated at P-19.The transfer bits 175 are then moved back into the dial 25 leaving theirloops in the hooks of these cylinder needles N. As the selector jacks Iapproach the jack raising cam 65, they will all be raised by the cam 65since the selector finger 75 will then be in inoperative position. Thebutts of alternate auxiliary jacks AI will follow the pathway P-5, thealternate cylinder needle butts will be raised along the pathway P-6 andthe hooks of the alternate cylinder needles N will be raised along thepathway P-7. All of the books of the cylinder needles N then follow thepathway P40 to take yarn and draw stitches at the first knittingstation. Thus, the transfer is completed at the first knitting stationand all of the steps 91 on all of the selector jacks I will be rockedoutwardly by the cam 81 and ride up the jack raising cam 66 as theneedle-cylinder32 is traveling in the forward direction to cause thehooks of all of the cylinder needles N to follow the pathway P-15 andtake and draw stitches with the yarn Y-1 as the needles N pass beneaththe left hand stitch cam 122. After the cylinder needles N have receivedthe loops of yarn from the transfer bits 175 in the dial 25 the machinethen continues to knit in rotary knitting while knitting two courseswith each revolution of the needle cylinder 32 to knit the leg of thehose.

Preparatory to making a heel pocket a selected group of needles N ismoved to inoperative position and in order tofacilitate selection agroup of jacks I have the butts 87 on the selector jacks I broken off sothat as the selector finger 78 is moved to operative position theselector jacks I with the butts 87 left thereon will be moved inwardlyto .passbehind the jack raising cam 67 and the jacks I with the selectorbutts 87 broken off will ride" up the jack" raising cam 67 to" thusdivide the cylinder needles into upper and lower needles" traveling atthe heights indicated by the pathways P-1' and"P'-2'6' (Figure 9) asthey approach the switch-up cam 155.

The cam 155 is moved into operative position while the Upon the firstreverse stroke or reciprocation of the needle cylinder 32, in'making thenarrowed portion of a heel pocket the leading needle of the active groupof needles'following thepathway P-26' (Figure 11) is lifted by the lefthand narrowing pick 132 at the secondknitting station so that it joinsthe trailing' end of the nonknitting'group'of needles'traveling' thepathway P-2' to thus decrease the number of needles passing throughthesecond knitting station in this first course in aclockwise direction byone needle. After the cylinder needles N pass through the secondknitting" station'pthey are raised by the cam 66 topass above theleft'hand stitch cam 112 and the first or leading needle of this activegroup will be raised from operative to inoperative position by the lefthand narrowing pick 127 to thus decrease the number'of active needles byone needle at the first knitting station. Thus two partial courses ofdiiferent lengths are knit in the first clockwise or rearwardreciprocation of the needle cylinder inmaking' the heel pocket. Upon thenext succeeding counterclockwise or forward stroke of" the needlecylinder 32 the first. or leadingneedlef'of the lowered or activegroup'of' needles will engage the right hand narrowingpick 126 and" beraised" upwardly thereby to' an inactive 'or"non=knitting position ahovethe ce'nt'er'stitch canr110 to thus decrease thenurnb'efof activeneedles which will pass throughthestitchcamsat the first knittingstation by oneneedlez] The group of needles knitting. at thefirstknitting station are raised bythe' cam 66topass' ahove' the'righ't handstitch cam 121 at the second feeding'station andthe-leading needlethereof'will engage the right hand na'rrowin g'pick 131 and beraisedupwardly'therebyto pass above the" top the. group of lowered or activeneedles willbe reduced by one needle at'the second knitting station" andan'additional needle at the" first knitting 'station; actioncontinues'until the desired number of narrowed'pa'rtial courses havebeenmade and a Widening operationis then started. 7 g

In the widening operation shownin Figure 12, .the' first stroke ofwidening takes place in a reverse or clockwise direction of the needlecylinder32. Bothof the widening picks'138 and 142 are; brought intovoperative position with thev widening pick' 1381 riding: against. the

butts' of the raised or non-knittingneedles and the widen ingpick'142will be mov'ed'in'to 'th'enotchiin its guard cam as the loweredor'a'ctive group ofneedles' passes thereby tothus engage thefirst'twoo'f' theiraise'd" or inactive needles and lower them to theactive position" shown in Figure 12. The group of loweredlof activeneedles passes through the second knittingjstation in the selector jacksI and the. auxiliary jacks Al to' follow a pathway P 28" (Figure 12).

The leading needle" of thislowered group will be raised't'o'inoperativeposition above the center stitch cam 120by theleftfhand"na'r-" rowing pick132. Thus, as the lowered group or active needlepasses through the" second knitting station inthe first reciprocationof'the widening'operation the-leading needle of 'thislowered groupwillbe rais'ed to inopera tive position by the=-left hand narrowing pick 132and the group will be increased by two additional needles at itstrailing end by the widening pick 142 lowering two needles from theinactive groupto' pass beneath the center cam- 1'20 and to thusdrawstitches at this secondknitting station. Asthe lowered group of needlespasses-beneath the right hand stitch cam' 121 and-draws stitches withthe yarn Y-1 it is raised by the jack raising cam 66 to-pass over theleft hand stitch cam 112 at the first knitting station. The leadingneedle of this group will be raised by the left hand narrowing pick 1 27to join the inactive group of needles-passing above the center stitchcamand the widening pick 138 willmove upwardly into itsguard cam as thislowered group passes-thereben'eath' and" engage the leading two needlesof the inactive group tolowerthem so that they will pass beneath thecenter stitch cam 110. Thus two additional needles'are added-to thetrailingend of the active group and one needle is removed at the"leading end of the: active groups as they pass throughthis firstknittingstation in the first clockwise or reverse direction of the needlecylinder in the widening operation.

Withthe next forward reciprocation of the needle cylinder in'th'ewidening'operation thewidening pick 142- will engage and lower theleading two'inactive' needles toadd them to the trailing end of thelowered-or active group of needlesfland the leading needle of the activegroup will be engaged byand raised to inoperative position by'the righthand nar'rowing pick 126 to-thus decrease the groupof needles knittingat the first knitting station by one at the leading end, and to addtwoneedles to the trailing 'end of the lowered oractive-group-of needlespassing'through the first knitting station and'give a net gain of oneneedle. As the lowered'or active group of needles passesthrough thesecond knitting station the leadingneedle of this group will be engagedby the'na'n rowing pick 131 and moved upwardly to inoperative ornon-knitting'position above the center stitch carn'120" and the wideningpick 138 will move two additionalneedles into action from non-knittingposition to pass beneath thecefiterstit'ch cam at thesecond knittingstation to thus ad'd'tWo additional needles at'the: trailingi end ofthe-active group and give a net 'ga-in ofone needle knitting at thissecond knitting station; The widening operationcontinues in this mannerwith alternate re ciprocations' of the needle cylinder and anadditionalneedle being added to the knitting group ateach knittingstation until the desired numberof needles have been brought back intooperation orlknitting'po'sition from the inoperative or non-knittingposition.-

It is thus seen that, in a narrowing operation the number of lowered oractive needles inagroup. is de-- creased by one leading needle at eachknitting station" With each reciprocation of the needle cylinder in'both' directions and the lowered or'knittingzneedles'inthe active groupare'causedto'draw stitches to form partial courses of differentlengths-'at-both the first and second"- knitting stations. In thewidening operation one needle is raisedfrom: the a'ctive or:knittingiposition" to the in active or non-knitting position atthcleadin'glend' of each group'of lowered needles at eachknittingstation and two additional needles are brought into action atthe trailinge'nd of the lowered or active group of needles at eachknitting station to-give a net result of increas-; ing the number ofneedles knitting at each knitting station by'one needle with eachreciprocation of the needle cylinder while knitting the active group ofneedles at both the first and: second knitting stations.

After the widening operation is completed the raised' or inoperativeneedles are again lowered into operative position uponl'a'forward'stroke of the needle cylinder by the"switch-'down" cam" 15'6"moving inwardly radially to the needle cylinder 32. As the butts of theraised group of needles following the pathway P-2 engage the switchdowncam 156 they willfollow a pathway P-30 (Figure and all of the needleslowered by the cam 156 will pass through the first knitting station anddraw stitches with the yarn Y. The conventional clutch mechanism, notshown, then operates to switch from reciprocatory to rotary motion andthe needle cylinder 32 rotates in a counterclockwise or forwarddirection to knit the foot of the hose, two courses with each rotationof the needle cylinder 32.

The conventional clutch mechanism is again operated to cause the needlecylinder to change from rotary motion to reciprocatory motion to knitthe toe pocket. The toe pocket may be knit in an identical manner to theheel pocketalready described and in the present instance the onlydifference is in the number of needles raised to inactive ornon-knitting position and the selector finger used to select theseneedles to be raised. On the last rotary course of the foot the selectorfinger 79 is moved to operative position to cause the selector jacks Iwith the butts 86 left thereon to be rocked inwardly to pass behind thejack raising cam 67 and approach the switch-up cam 155 along the pathwayP26 (Figure 9). The selector jacks I with the butts 86 broken off willengage and ride up the jack raising cam 67 and raise the correspondingcylinder needles to follow the pathway P-l as they approach theswitch-up cam 155. The switch-up cam 155 is then moved to operativeposition and the needles whose butts are traveling the pathway P-l(Figure 9) will be raised to inactive or non-knitting position to followthe pathway P-Z. With the first reverse or clockwise stroke of theneedle cylinder, a narrowing operation takes place which is identicaltothe narrowing in the heel pocket already described.

After the desired number of narrowed courses have been made, thewidening picks 138 and 142 are moved to operative position to widen in amanner identical to the widening in the heel pocket. Upon completion ofthe widening courses, the clutch mechanism is again shifted to switchfrom reciprocatory to rotary knitting and the switch-down cam 156 ismoved to operative position to lower all of the raised or non-knittingneedles to pass through and draw stitches at both knitting station's. Afew plain courses are then knit which are known as the usual loopersrounds. The loops on the needles are then shed by removing and cuttingthe yarns Y and Y-l at both feeding stations and the completed hose willfall down the center of the needle cylinder. In the description ofknitting the hose it was assumed, for simplicity, that there were noyarn changes at either of the yarn feeding stations while as a practicalmatter and in practice the various parts of fine gauge ladies hose suchas the welt, leg, heel and toe pockets are usually knit of differentdenier yarn. The yarn feeding fingers 38 at the throat 37 and thefingers 46 at the throat 40 may be supplied with difierent denier yarnsand changed in a conventional manner to knit the various parts of thehose.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employedthey are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a two-feed circular independent needle hosiery knitting machinehaving a rotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mounted forvertical movement in said needle cylinder, and means for effectingreciprocation of the needle cylinder, a pair of closely spaced sets ofstitch cams adjacent said needle cylinder, each of said sets including aright hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch cam and a stationary topcenter needle guiding cam, all of said needles adapted to draw stitchesat each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder and agroup of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in both directionsateach set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is caused toreciprocate in the formation of a knit pocket; V

2. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having arotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mounted for verticalmovement in said needle cylinder, and means for effecting reciprocationof the needle cylinder, a plurality of separate sets of closely spacedstitch cams adjacent said needle cylinder, all of said needles adaptedto draw stitches at each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needlecylinder, a group of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in bothdirections at each separate set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder iscaused to reciprocate in the formation of a kn'it pocket, and means forindependently varying the number of needles drawing stitches at each setof stitch cams during reciprocation of the needle cylinder, saidlast-named means including means interposed between said sets of stitchcams.

3. In a circularindependent needle hosiery knitting machine having arotatable needle cylinder, independent needles mouted for verticalmovement in said needle cylinder, and means for effecting reciprocationof the needle cylinder, first and second spaced sets of stitch camsadjacent said needle cylinder, all of said needles adapted to drawstitches at each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needlecylinder, a group of said needles being adapted to draw stitches in bothdirections at each set of stitch cams as the needle cylinder is causedto reciprocate in the formation of a knit pocket and needle selectingmeans positioned in advance of said first set of stitch cams.

4. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having aneedle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating'the needlecylinder the combination of; two sets of spaced stitch cams, each set ofstitch cams including a right hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch camand a top center cam, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each setof stitch cams, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams andneedle selecting means positioned in advance of the first set of stitchcams as the needle cylinder is rotated for selecting cylinder needles topass through said first set of stitch cams or to pass beneath said firstset of stitch cams.

5. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having aneedle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating the needlecylider the combination of; two sets of spaced stitch cams, each set ofstitch cams including a right hand stitch cam, a left hand stitch camand a top center cam, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each setof stitch cams, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams andneedle elevating means positioned in advance of each set of stitch camsfor elevating cylinder needles to pass above the right hand stitch camof each set of stitch cams with rotation of the needle cylinder.

6. In a circular independent needle hosiery knitting machine having aneedle cylinder and means for rotating and reciprocating the needlecylinder the combination of; first and second sets of spaced stitchcams, each set of stitch cams including a right hand stitch earn, a lefthand stitch cam and a top center cam between said right hand and saidleft hand cams, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each ,set ofstitch earns, a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams andneedle elevatin'g means positioned in advance of each set of stitch camsfor elevating cylinder needles to pass through said sets of stitch carnsin both directions with reciprocation of the needle cylinder.

7. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circularindependent needle knitting machine having a plurality of spaced sets ofstitch cams including a first set and a subsequent set, verticallymovable needles,

a selecter jack beneath eachvneedle and jack selecting me o means inadvance of the. first of said sets of stitch cams, the steps ofadvancing the needles along a lower path to normally pass beneath thefirst set of stitch cams, selecting certainjacks to raisecorrespondingneedles to pass through and knit. at the first set of stitch cams whileselectingcertain other jacks to. cause corresponding, needles'to remainin the lower path and pass beneath the ifirst set of stitch. cams and.passing all ofthe cylinder iiedles through the subsequent set ofstitchcams to it.

8. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circularindependent needle knitting machine having a plurality of spaced sets ofstitch cams including a first .set and asubsequent set, verticallymovableneedles, a selector jack beneath each needleand jackselectingmeans in=advance .of the first of said sets of stitch cams, the.steps of advancing the needles alonga lower path tomormally passbeneaththe first set of stitch cams, selecting alternate jacks toraisecorresponding needles to pass through and knit at the first set ofstitch cams while select- :ing intervening-jacks -to cause correspondingneedles to remain -in' the lower path and pass-beneath the first set ofstitch cams and passing all of the cylinder needles through thesubsequent set of stitch cams to knit.

9. That method of knitting make-up courses on a multifeed circularindependent needle knitting machine having a first and second sets ofspaced stitch cams, vertically movable needles, a selector jack beneatheach needle, jack selecting means in advance of the first set of stitchcams and jack raising means in advance of the second set of stitch cams,the steps of advancing the needles along a lower path to normally passbeneath the first set of stitch earns, selecting alternate jacks toraise corresponding needles to pass through and knit at the first set ofstitch cams while selecting intervening jacks to cause correspondingneedles to remain in the lower path and pass beneath the first set ofstitch cams and raising all of the jacks to raise corresponding needlesto pass through and knit at the second set of stitch cams.

10. That method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needleknitting machine having a plurality of separate spaced sets of stitchcams, a plurality of yarn feeding stations and adapted to knitmulti-feed on both rotary and reciprocatory movements, the steps ofknitting a partial course at each set of stitch cams with the same givengroup of needles with each reciprocation and increasing the number ofneedles in the group knitting each successive partial course at each setof stitch cams.

11. In a method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needleknitting machine having first and second knitting stations, first andsecond yarn feeding stations and adapted to knit multi-feed on bothrotary and reciprocatory movements, the steps of knitting a firstplurality of partial courses at each set of stitch cams with a givengroup of needles with each reciprocation While decreasing the number ofneedles in the group knitting each partial course at each set of stitchcams and knitting a second plurality of partial courses at each set ofstitch carns with the given group of needles with each reciprocationwhile increasing the number of needles in the group knitting eachpartial course at each set of stitch cams.

12. In a method of knitting on a multi-feed circular independent needleknitting machine having first and second spaced sets of stitch drawingcams each adapted to draw stitches on both rotary and reciprocatorymovements, a pair of narrowing picks operative with each set of stitchdrawin cams adapted to move needles from operative to inoperativeposition and a widening pick between said sets of stitch cams adapted tomove needles from inoperative to operative position, the steps ofknitting a first plurality of partial courses at each set of stitch camswith each reciprocation while decreasing by the use of said narrowingpicks the number of needles knitting each partial course at each set ofstitch cams, knitting a second plurality of partial courses at each setof stitch cams with each reciprocation while increasingthenumberof-needles knitting eachpartial course at'eaeh set'ofstitch-camsby the use of both thenarrowingpicks andthe widening picksand joining the'second plurality of partial courses knit to the firstplurality-of partial courses as the second plurality of courses areknit.

13. ha circular multi-feed independent-needle knitting machine havingfirst and second spaeed'knittingstations each" adapted-to knit in both arotary and reciprocatory manner, each of said knittingstationscomprising two stitch' drawing cams anda. center needle guiding cam, a;yarnfeeding station-above and in vertical alignment with eachof-saidknit ting stations, anarrowing pick operative with each of-said-stitch= drawing cams, a widening-pick between the 1 firstandgsecond knitting stations ,and -.a widening pick between the I secondand first knittingstations.

'14. In acircular :muIti-feed-independent needleknitting machine-havingfirst -and second spaced knitting :stations each adapted toknitin both a rotary and reciprocatory 'manner, each or said knittingstatioris icomprising' two 'stitch drawing cams and a. centerneedleiguidingxcamna yarn feeding station above and in verticalalignment with each of said knitting stations, selector jacks beneatheach cylinder needle, a narrowing pick operative with each or" saidstitch drawing cams during reciprocatory knitting, a widening pickbetween the first and second knitting stations, a widening pick betweenthe second and first knitting stations, aselective jack elevating campositioned in advance of the first knitting station, a jack elevatingcam positioned between the first and second knitting stations and aselective jack elevating cam positioned after the second knittingstation.

15. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted torotate and reciprocate, independent cylinder needles, selector jacksbeneath each cylinder needle, first and second yarn feeding stations andfirst and second corresponding knitting stations, each of said knittingstations including a right hand and left hand stitch drawing cam spacedapart from each other, each of said stitch drawing cams having aclearing cam surface and an inclined stitch drawing surface and havingtheir inclined stitch drawing surfaces facing each other, a centerneedle guiding cam above and between said right and left hand stitchdrawing cams, a narrowing pick operative in the clearing-cam surface ofeach of said stitch cams and adapted to engage and elevate cylinderneedles above the center cam, a widening pick between said first andsaid second knitting stations, a second widening pick between saidsecond and said first knitting stations, a first jack elevating cam inadvance of the first knitting station, a second jack elevating cambetween the first and second knitting stations, a third jack elevatingcam following the second knitting station and jack selector means inadvance of the first and third jack elevating earns.

16. A circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, adapted torotate and reciprocate, independent cylinder needles, selector jacksbeneath each cylinder needle, a dial and transfer bits in said dial,there being half as many transfer bits as cylinder needles, first andsecond yarn feeding stations, first and second knitting stations, eachof said knitting stations including right hand and left hand stitchdrawing cams spaced apart from each other, each having a clearing camsurface and an inclined stitch drawing surface and having their inclinedstitch drawing surfaces facing each other, a center needle guiding camabove and between said right and left hand stitch drawing earns, anarrowing pick operative in the clearing cam surface of each of saidstitch cams, a widening pick between said knitting stations, a jackelevating cam in advance of the first knitting station, jack selectormeans in advance of said jack elevating cam for selecting alternatejacks to engage said jack elevating cam and raise alternate needles topass through the stitch drawing cams at the first knitting station andfor selecting intervening jacks to pass behind said jack elevating camand allow the cylinder needles to pass beneath the stitch drawing camsat the first knitting station and a second jack raising carn between thefirst and second knitting stations for engaging and raising all of saidselector jacks and the cylinder needles thereabove so that all of thecylinder needles pass through the stitch drawing cams at the secondknitting station. 7

17. A method of knitting on a circular multi-feed knitting machinehaving independent cylinder needles, selector jacks beneath eachcylinder needle, a dial, radially movable transfer bits in said dial,there being half as many transfer bits as cylinder needles, first andsecond separate yarn feeding stations, first and second separateknitting stations, a needle raising surface in advance of said firstknitting station, a first jack raising cam following said secondknitting station, jack selector fingers in advance of said first jackraising cam, ,a second jack raising cam in advance of the first knittingstation and a 20 jack selector finger in advance of said second jackraising cam, the steps of selecting jacks at the first jack raising camto raise alternate cylinder needles to an inter- 16 mediate level andallowing intervening cylinder needles to remain at a low level, movingthe transfer hits outwardly of the dial in advance of the first knittingstation between alternate cylinder needles and over intervening cylinderneedles, raising intervening needles through the transfer bits by theneedleraising surface, moving the transfer bits inwardly to the dial totransfer the loops from the transfer bits to the cylinder needles andraising intervening cylinder needles by the second 10 jack raising camto pass through the first knitting station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,217,022 Lawson et a1. Oct 8, 1940 2,440,280 Lawson Apr. 27, 19482,576,962 McDonough Dec. 4, 1951 2,658,365 Lawson Nov. 10, 19532,680,961 Thurston June 15, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,613 Germany Oct. 4,1932 704,842 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1954

